CalArts vs. Peirce College

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Peirce College in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Peirce College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 929 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Peirce College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Peirce College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Peirce College 13:1.

CalArts vs. Peirce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Peirce College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Peirce College than CalArts ($13,290 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Peirce College are 37.7% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($8,800 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 291.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Peirce College (about $43,936 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 291.7% higher at CalArts than at Peirce College (about $43,936 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Peirce College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 298.8% larger than aid received by Peirce College students ($21,416 vs. $5,370).

CalArts vs. Peirce College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Peirce College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Peirce College and CalArts.

• Peirce College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Peirce College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CalArts vs. Peirce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Peirce College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Peirce College's (27%).
• Graduates from Peirce College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than CalArts graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of the Arts graduates have a $7,625 lower median loan debt than Peirce College graduates ($28,500 vs. $36,125).
• Among borrowers, CalArts graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Peirce College graduates ($294 vs. $373).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peirce College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 32%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.